MULLINS REALLY PACKS A PUNCH Willie wallops rivals yet again to sign off Festival in real style

Mullins (inset) yesterday. “I haven’t looked beyond today and I’d say that will be her finished until next winter although we could be tempted by going to France.”

After this race Mullins was presented with his champion trainer’s trophy which he was picking up for the 12th time.

This means that the trainer has equalled the great Tom Dreaper for championship successes.

Saldier brought up a Grade 1 double for Mullins as he upstaged some better fancied rivals in the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.

Robbie Power’s mount was returned a well-backed 10/1 chance and he coped best with the steady pace.

Saldier was travelling well as the closely packed field turned for home and he picked up best to defeat Mr Adjudicator by three lengths with the Triumph winner, Farclas, taking fifth. “He’s a horse that we think quite a bit of but he just needed to brush up his jumping, which he did today,” added Mullins. “None of our four-year-olds have had that hard a season so I would say that we will look at going to France with them next month.” The last six figure pot of the week also came to Mullins as Meri Devie and Rachael Blackmore bagged the Ballymore Handicap Hurdle. A third winner of the week for her jockey, the 14/1 shot battled on well from the last to see off her stablemate C’est Jersey. “She’s a good mare and she obviously likes this track,” said Mullins. “She just got very strong on me this season and I’ve struggled to get her fit. “She’s one that we might keep going with and I wouldn’t mind going back to the flat with her.”